Tire-building machine.



IVI. B. WHEELER.

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZ. I9I7.

1,266,364. Patented Muy 14, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2| |917- 1,266,364. Y Patented May 14,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

attozneq IVI. B. WHEELER.

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE.

APPLluATloN FILED IuNE. |917.

1,266,364. Patented May14,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@qu a. MM, 13

v useful Improvements in Tire-Building .Ma-

MARI/onia. wHELnn'oF New Yoan, N. Y.

.To dull 'whomI t conc-lem.' c Y, Beit known that I, MARION B. WHEELER,

"a citizen ofthe vUnited-States, residingat;

New York, in the county of, New York and :Statf of New York, haveinvented new and chinas, of which the following is a specification.. l

This invention relates to improvementsin tire building machines of thattype in which layers or strips of rubberized sheety fabric aresuccessively wrapped about or built up around'a rotary ring core for theproduction of the body vof a-tire-shoe or casing,`which is subsequentlysubjected to finishing treatment to complete its formation.

One object of the invention` is to vprovide means for rubberized abrioom the supply and tensioning rolls to the ring core, and properlytensioning such layers or strips and disposing the same with relation4to the forming surface lof the core, whereby an accurate feedin action'isobtained the strips at all times isposed to accurately conform to thesurface of the core and,- to obviate thenecessity of using oversizedstrips, whileY preventing or materially reducing'waste of time andmaterial due to the necessity of ltrimming.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide fabric guiding andtensioning means of the character described which is adapted for guidingfabric stri s of different widths, as required in thepro uction of tiresof the saine or various sizes, and which is ladapted to guide the fabricin its movements to accurately conform to any irregularities orvariations which may exist in the shape cr conformation of various ringcores in connection with which the tire fabric guiding and tensioningdevices may be used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a building machinewhereby time, labor and material in the building of tires inay be saved,'and better and more uniformly-made tires produced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a builder carriagewhich is adapted to be manipulated to eect saving in time and labor inthe coasting actions or forward l Spcoication of Letters Patent.- vvPafhied application ined Jun'e 2, 19,17. seriainaivam. y

idin the layers or strips of May 1,51, 1918,.

and backward movements of said carriage,

durin the operationof building a tire.

- Wit these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of the features of construction, vcombination andarrangement of p parts, hereinafterv fully described .and

claimed, referncelbeing had to the accompanying drawings, ,in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of so much of Vatire build-ing'machine asis necessary to illustrate my invention, showing the invention appliedfor use in connectiggmylith the usual supply and'tensioning rolls', ringcore and carriage.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, artly in section, of my improved fabric guiing and tensioning means.-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the movable and. extensible armsof the controlling means for supporting and adjusting,

the channeled guide.

Fig. `5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the channeled. guide.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one vof the bracket arms .for supportingthe final guidirig and tensioning or delivery roll.y A Fig. 7|y lis asection through the carriage taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. le

Fig. 8 is av perspective view ofthe lbolt for Y locking the traveler nutto the feed .screw of the carriage and releasing said nut to permitquick forward movementV or retraction of the carriage.

Fig.,9 is a perspective view of a portion of the carriage and thetraveler nut: y

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a main frame carrying setsvofuprights 2, 3

and 4, provided with bearings for the shafts 5, 6 and 7. The shaft 5 carries a supply roll 8 of the sheet fabric, which isthe rubberized fabriccommonly employed, which fabric is covered or protected on one side by aprotective strip of muslin 9. As the rubberized fabric feeds from theroll 8 to the tire forming'core for use, the muslin protective layer 9is stripped therefrom and wound around a stripping or take up roll 10carried by a suitable frame 11 pivotally mounted upon thesuprights 2 andprovided to which cutters of suitable type for trimi ming the edges ofthe plies or layers of material may be employed. I have not deemed 1t-necessary to show these tools or devices 1n 5 detail, Ias they may beof any ordinary or preferred construction and mounted in the ordinary orany other desired manner.

In the art of making tires, layers or strips of different lengths andwidths are applied and shaped to formthe body of the tire-shoe priorl tothe application of the breaker strip 'and the tread forming elements.Heretofore it has been found necessary to make some of the strips ofexcessive width to enable them to be pro erly applied, owing tothe'inaccurate. assem lage of the segments of the ring. core, andcareless or inaccurate guiding and application of the fabric to the coreby the workmen, the accurate guiding and applicationof the fabric beingdependent largely upon the experience, skill and care of the workmen, nopositive mechanical means being employed to guide the fabric andapplying-it properly in position. This results ina considerable amountof material being wasted, owing to the amount of material which" must betrimmed off. It is one object of my invention to provide `means forovercoming these objections by guiding and applying'the fabric to thecore in an accurate manner, and 1n such a way as to' con-. 4 form to allvarlations or inaccuracies 1n the surface of the core whereby'strips ofmaterial cut to the exact-size may be employed and loss of time andmaterial from trimming and waste prevented.

' In lcarrying my invention into practice lfor the accomplishment ofthis result, I provide guiding and applying means between 40 the roll 15and the ring core 16. This uiding andv applying means consists .of a

rame structure comprising a pair of brackets or frame arms 40 pivoted orotherwise secured at their inner ends, as at ,41,

45 to the uprights 4' for swingmg movement in a vertical plane. The arms40 may be the same as heretofore employed tocarry a final delivery orguiding roll which lis rotatable therein but rigid against shifting V5o.movement transversely of and with the fabric. The outer or free ends ofthese frame arms 40 are provided vwith bearings for spindles 42 carryinga guide or bending roll 43', which takes the place of an ordinary finaldelivery or guiding roll above referred to. This roll 43 is disposed ata point in the path of feed of the fabric between the roll 15 and,surface of the ring core 16, and in a vhorizontal planebelow-the planeof the so roll 15 and slightly below the plane of thev upper portion ofthe periphery or forming surface of the core 16. -The roll 43 is formedin its end with bearing socketsf`or recesses 44 slidablv receivin theends of the spindles 42, on w ich-spin es are mounted outerabutmentheads or' washers 45 and inner sliding abutment heads or washers46, between which xed and sliding heads or washers -are disposed coiledsprmgs 47 whichY norf 40, thus forming ball and socket or universallyjointed connections between the said guide arms 48 and 'thel frame arms40 to permit said arms 48 to have vertical andlateral '80 motions withor independent of the arms 40. These arms 48 extend convergently -fromthe arms 40 toward the core 16 and are provided at their free ends' withguiding rollers 51I f beveled to en age the sides of the forming surfaceof sald core. Each of these guide rollers 51 is mounted for revolutionon ay spindle 52 adjustably secured to its arm by a set screw' 53,whereby saidrollers may be i adjusted for varying the distance between90 them to suit tire cores of different widths. Each arm 48 consists ofvapair of sliding or telescopic bars or sections '54 and 55 slidablycoupled-'by sleeves 56 provided with clampin screws 57 to `iix themrelativelyin 95 adjuste position, the construction being suchoas torender-the arms 48 adjustable as to length according to the distancebetween the roller 43 and lforming surfaces1 of the core 16 of differentdiameters for the production of different sized tires.

The arms 48 are. provided with swiveled threaded bearings 58 for atransverely.x disposed right and left hand .threaded adjusting'shaft 59,turning in threaded openings in said bearings 58, whereby the arms 48may be adjusted towardA ``and from each other.. Y The right and lefthand threaded portions of the shaft also engage bearings 60 and 61carried by the sections 62 and 63 of a channeled fabric guide member ordirector 64. This channeled ide member or director is providedforguiding the fabric strip laccurately or on a truey and regular lineto the surface of the core 16, and is composed of two longitudinallydivided sections 62 and 63 whose bottom portions overlap in slidingrelation, so that said sections may be adjustedv to vary the width ofthe guide journaled therein, according 'to the width of the fabric stri13 which is to bev fed to the core 16. It will be observed that inadjusting the sections of the'. channeled guide or director 54 the guidearms 48 will be correspondingly adjusted to accord with 125 the width ofthe ystrip and the width ofr the tire which is to be formed.

The channeled guide or director 65 is also divided transversely in linewith and below the roller 43 to Aform a rear channeled 13o .1. In a tirebuilding machine, the combi-J nation of a rotary core, fabricsupply-rolls,

and universally movable fabric guiding means between the core and rolls.

2. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricfeeding rolls', and a vertically and laterally movable changuidingelement between the core and 3. In a tire building machine, thecombination of a rotary core, fabric feeding rolls, and a verticallymovable and laterally tiltable channeled guiding elementlbetween thecore and the rolls.

4. In-a tire building machine, the combination of, a rotary core, fabricsupplying rolls, a verticall movable and laterally tiltable fabricgulding element between the rolls and core, and means for holding saidelement in guided relation to the surface of the core.

5. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricsupplying rolls', -a ide member arranged between the core aniolls forsupporting and guidingly engaging the lateral edges of a strip of fabricfeeding from the rolls to the core, in-

terconnected supports for. said guide member, said supports beingpivotally mounted for vertical and lateral swinging movements, andcontrolling devices for said supports engaging opposite sides of theforming surface of the core.

6. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricsupplying rolls, a guidin the core and ro ls and iexibly mounted forvertical and lateral movements, controlling elements engaging thesurface of the core on opposite sides of its center forA justing saidguiding element for feeding the strip of fabric to conform'to thesurface of the core.

7. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricfeeding rolls, and a universally movable channeled guide for the fabricarranged between the core and rolls.

8. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricfeeding/rolls,

and a channeled guide for the fabric between the core and rolls havingangularly related portions hinged or pivoted for relative movements.

9, In a tire'building machine, the combination of a rotary core, vfabricsupplying rolls, a channeled guide member arranged between the core androlls for supporting and guidingly engaging the latere edges element,disposed between of a strip of fabric feeding from the rolls to thecore, interconnected supports 'for said guide member, said supportsbeing pivotally mounted for vertical and lateral swinging movements, andcontrolling devices for said supports engaging opposite sides of theforming surface of the core.

l0. In a tire building machine, the combination 'of a rotary core,fabric supplying rolls, a channeled'V fabric guide disposed bel tweenthe core and rolls and comprising iexibly connected and* angularly'related sections, and means movably mounting said guide with relationto the surface of the core.

1l. In atire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricfeeding rolls,

a iiexibly supported channeled guide composed of longitudinally dividedsections arranged between the core and rolls, said guide sections beingadjustable to vary the width of the guide for different Widths offabric, and means for guiding said guide with relation to the surface ofthe core.

12, In a tire building machine, the combii nation of a rotary core,fabric su plying rolls, a guiding element between t e core and rollshaving angularly related portions and a bending Vroll about which thefabric passes in proximity to the said angularly related portions of theguiding element.

i3. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary ycore,fabric supplying rolls, a channeled guide for the fabricdisposed betweenthe core and rolls, means for movably supporting said guide andcentering the same with relation to the surface of the core, and abending roller arranged for coperation with the guide and yieldabletherewith. y

'14. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core,fabric supplying rolls, a channeled guide for the fabric disposedbetween the core and rolls, said guide having angularly relatedportionsand having its channeled flanges cut away to form a recedingspace at the intersection of said portions, and a bending roll forchanging the path of the fabric disposed for rotation in said space.

15. In a tire building machine, the combination of a rotary core, fabricsupplying rolls, achanneled guide for the fabric passing from the rollsto the core, vertically movable frame arms, a bending roller journaledin said arms and arranged for cooperation with the channeled guide, armsuniversally jointed to the frame arms for naion ol:1 a miam eoie, fanficsnpplg/'ing rolls5 a elianiieecl ula'orie guide aiiangefl in line offeedL of lglie falesie between the alei'ie suinplying andelle iotagryol'e7 said guide conipisino genre-ed sections aiiangefl ai; an angle ea.l

`. eine? sai. sections lia-V- fells eutaway agacent ance space, and

. surface.

ine? combi io Supplying 1 line-oreed snpplying rolls fname armee'iansvei'sely of ille aine aiinsa guide anis anol proage lie sui'-sifles of ils naien of in nellaa Ve'giieally nic for the abiie eenipoable sections, l guia" frame rafnis ifo? 'Vei'siear lateral inovefments, guide iolleys CL. by folie guide amis and Tunning in eene-aci;with llie sui :lace of elle coe, or adjusiing the geule eo ialy 'fiesupplying line, a guide -eially aclgusizte 'elle guide arms and seoiousf one 'elle Width of the guicle dis-tense between @leguide rollers, e in ing miler ea- 'eneling transveisely ef tlie guide and mounted upontlie ranie aiins foi1 moi/ement in a flizeotion eifansveisely of iblxeLguide.

2l, ln avoisine louiloling machine, ilie coinbinaiion of a forming core,fabric supplying means, a guide arranged inthe line of feed of ellefabric loeween the supplying nieans and core, ineens suppoiiing saidguicle lion veizieal end lateral tilting movementsg means governed bylle Conformation of elle l2-ne guide from einaee o the core overibieally anni lateielly siii-ing 'the guide 'to feed. the fabricaeeoife ance therewith,

n a iiife biiilclingwmaeliine, elle eoniafiangenl in ne line el e'weenelle sugoiiolyiiig means neming said. guide iss, and means .en 'liesuiaee o ille eene i veitioail l n n off e forming eolie, fabricsupplying y eecl e loinaizion of a eine oiniingeeie, faerie supplyingineans va bending ioll,` Veitieally and lateially movable fabric guidedisposed between sai aloiie supplying means and lle eoie, saicl bendingToll being i'oatanle on ibs anis,v and suppored inflepenelenily of lieabiie 'gnielebfut slii'ialole theiewitli laiseielly ,of ine line oi"feed of the ifalsrie, and controlling means for elle guide unning inconi-,ace with *alle surface of *alle cere,

25. ln a tire louilfling machine., the eem- 1oinaiion of e eine eoimingeoie, aloi'io sup- @lying nie-ans, a guie i'oi' conducting a siii@ offanfic iioin said supplying means en the surface oi the core, saiflguide being flexibly mounted for univeisal acljusments te guide'lie'ialoie in aceofelence Willi Variations in elle eenforinaion of thesurface of the core,

and eontiolling means foi' regulating theinovemenbs of the guidearranged to iun in contact Wien eine surface of the core.

26. in a eine lnnilfling machine, the eom isination oi a forming cone,fabric supply? ing i'olls7 a fabi-ic guide inthe line oiE leed betweenlie core and rolls, a suppe-fl'J for the' alorie in eonoiinity withVariations in the` eoniieilmation of the surface of the eoie.

9'? .in eine building machine, alle coin- C i 2e. eine euilelinginzmlnicnea the cenebination of a forning core, fabric supplyi g rolls,a vertically movable frame; a roflfitable and laterally shifting bendingroll carried by said frame, a fabric guide composed of angularly relatedparts arranged for coperaton with said roll and disposed in the line offeed of the fabric between the supply rolls and core, arms universallyjoined to the vertically movable frame on opposite sides of the guide,and rollers car- 10 ried by said arms and engaging the sides of thesurface ofthe core for adjusting the arins and guide to conform tovariations in the conformation of the surface of the core.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. l5

MARION B. WHEELER.

